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For you aviation buffs

Well, GA has reached the point in life he wants to play a little... and flying was his thing when he was younger, so lets see how one can fly on a budget...

Looked into owning a share of a Cessna or Piper...
Looked into renting from time to time...
Looked into volunteer flying...
None of those are gonna work.

Then my friend with a paraplane took me for a ride...
While I am not interested in flying under a parachute... the idea of a home-built sunny-Sunday 'ultra-light' seems reasonable (I learned that all small home built hobby flying machines are called untralights now).

Well after some reading, I think I am interested in a gyrocopter...

Anyone here know anything about them, have any experience with them, or have one to sell?

Ever looked at the PA 108. I had one for a few years, until someone started calling me Daddy. Great little plane. I think it quals as light sport these days also. 2 seater but you can actualy go somewhere in it.

Ever looked at the PA 108. I had one for a few years, until someone started calling me Daddy. Great little plane. I think it quals as light sport these days also. 2 seater but you can actualy go somewhere in it.

Nix the light sport the 22-108 has to much payload and power. The vagabonds 15s and 17s are what I was thinking about.
Before the depression.

I restored and flew a Vag for several years...GREAT little airplane...super economical with 65 hp, and a pocket rocket with an 85. Conversely, quite hard to find as not that many were made.

I'd also look at an original Aeronca 7AC Champion. Thousands were made and still around. Make sure you limit your search to one with under 1320 lbs gross weight (from memory) which is the upper limit for light sport.

No offense to a gyrocopter or other open light sport, but sure gets cold this time of year when the wind blows thru. One of our local guys has an open-cockpit Pitts, and his limit is 59^ for a flight of more than five minutes.

Pra.org is one of the premier gyrocopter sites, swpc.org (Shortwing Piper Club) is a great resource for Vags, and the Aeronca Aviators Club (forget that web site) same for Champs. EAA.org is Mecca for all types of sport flying.

Honestly, I was not expecting much in the way of responses... THX again!

My goal is a Sunny Sunday bore holes in the clouds and shoot aerial photography toy... not really interested in travel to a different airport (to do aerial photography I will need a two seater and dual controls). And honestly, building it (or buying a partially built kit and completing it) is part of the appeal.
I have done some reading at a few 'rotorhead' sites... interesting they have posts from all over the world. Guy down in NZ seems to be very popular on one site.
I find there are really nice gyrocopters up into the $30-40K price range, fiberglass body and aviation quality 4 (or 6) cylinder engines (Lycommings). There are also open bar frame units with ROTAX engines (Rotax is a variation of a snowmobile engine that is popular with fixed wing ultralights).
I also find there are a mid-class of homebuilts which incorporate larger engines, yet not the expense of aircraft engines. Surprisingly, there are a lot of designs around Subaru engines, something I just happen to have a reliable example of in my driveway...

What I want to end up with; is a closed trailer I can tow to an airport or grass strip, roll it out, attach the blades, do a ground check, start it up and fly... I understand from some reading this is available.
Specifications would be:
Two seater (probably front/back as opposed to side/side)
A design that works well with a Subaru 2.3L 4 engine around 100 HP
Load capacity around 550-600# (I am not a small guy, and would like to not have to fly light on fuel).
Some kind of body, with partially removable panels (fly open doors and top in the summer).
This is important: A more rugged and strong frame and design.
Probably add some more details as I learn more about what is out there... plan to go to Sun N' Fun in Florida in March of 2013 to learn what is available.

Should be an interesting endeavor...

Thoughts?

BTW: NO, flying a kite is not acceptable (not THAT old yet)... and besides, I fly kites evenings at ARP... <grin>